WR Morgan needs surgery; 49ers look for replacement

Joshua Morgan will undergo surgery for a broken bone in his lower right leg. -- AP

Jim Harbaugh said today the 49ers are preparing to be without wide receiver Joshua Morgan for an “extended time” and will sign another wide receiver or elevate a wideout from the practice squad to fill Morgan’s spot.

Morgan will have surgery today after breaking a bone in his lower right leg, Harbaugh said. It’s possible the injury will end Morgan’s 2011 season.

“That’s a hope,” Harbaugh said when asked if Morgan could be available later in the season. “We’ll have a better idea after today, tomorrow. See where we’re at and assess the situation.”

The Niners will also be assessing which receiver to add to the 53-man roster, a decision Harbaugh expects will be made within the next “24 to 48 hours.” He said the two wide receivers on the practice squad, undrafted rookie Joe Hastings and John Matthews, are candidates. The 49ers will also bring in other wide receivers for workouts, he said.

Potential workout candidates could include former 49ers Dominique Zeigler and Lance Long, who were among the team’s final roster cuts.

Long, who had 20 catches for 178 yards with the Chiefs in 2009, had five catches for 40 yards during the preseason. Zeigler, who missed much of training camp due to the ACL injury he suffered last year, had one catch for 10 yards.

* Morgan ranks second on the team in catches (15) and yards (220). He has eight catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in his past two games.

“I just feel sick for him and for our team,” Harbaugh said. “There’s nobody you can afford to lose. Especially him, Josh was really playing well. Josh was really coming into his own, catching his stride. I feel bad for him, feel bad for us. That’s a tough loss for us.”

* The Niners have three healthy receivers in Michael Crabtree, Ted Ginn and Kyle Williams. Harbaugh said there was a “good possibility” Braylon Edwards (knee) could be back after the bye week for the Niners’ game against visiting Cleveland on Oct. 30.

When asked about using tight end Delanie Walker, a wide receiver in college, as a wideout, he suggested it was a possibility in some personnel packages.

“We look at (Walker) as a tight end, receiver and blocker,” Harbaugh said. “And it gives us great flexibility.”